Revision as of 20:24, 12 March 2019

Objectives

Introduction

Main Body

• The gospel of John began with a Theological Prologue in which we were introduced to The Word, the creator, sustainer, and solution to the problem of sin. Here at the end of the Gospel of John we see how the ministers of God are now incorporated into the mission of God.

Setting the Stage

• Peter, and several of the other disciples have just finished fishing through the night. After catching nothing, Jesus calls to them from the shore and asks them to cast the net on the right side of the boat. The results are miraculous but what is even more surprising is that Jesus has already prepared breakfast over a charcoal fire on the shore. Jesus has demonstrated that even now, He will continue to provide for His disciples. The call to follow Jesus is not an empty call to blind devotion, but a call to follow the only one who can truly provide. Now, as we enter verses 15-25 we will see that while the call to follow is not a call to follow with no promise of provision, it is also a call to fallow with complete devotion and potential for significant hardship. Christ calls on us to follow, he promises to provide, but does not promise everything will be easy. Christ's call is one of complete devotion.

• Don't miss the symbolism present. The last time that Peter stood before a coal fire was back in John 18:18 "Now the servants and officers who had made a fire of coals stood there, for it was cold, and they warmed themselves. And Peter stood with them and warmed himself." What happened at this moment? Peter denied Jesus! The stage is set and Jesus is about to follow up on what is one of the most important questions still lingering. What is to be done with a follower once they have failed? What is to be done with Peter? At the original fire, three questions were used to demonstrate Peter's complete failure, here, again we will see three questions, but this time they are not to destroy Peter, no thy are to restore Peter.

• We can practically see Peter and Jesus walking together on the beach after their morning breakfast with the Apostle John following closely behind. John has chosen to write in a way that gives us the opportunity to listen in.

Complete Devotion (Verses 15-17)

Do you love Jesus? (Verse 15)

• Verse 21:15. Notice a couple of features, Christ addresses Peter very formally. In fact, He does not even call him Peter, no Christ uses the formal name Simon, son of Jonah. Just like in his original calling John 1:42 "Now when Jesus looked at him, He said, “You are Simon the son of Jonah. You shall be called Cephas” (which is translated, A Stone)." Christ is demonstrating that service and dedication are not matters of courage or even competence, no service is a matter of Christ Himself.
• You might argue that John 3:16 "For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life." highlights a major theme of the the book of John, namely, God loves the world! In fact, John votes chapter 12-20 to the passion week, the greatest outpouring of love the world has ever seen. Now as we conclude the book, we ask an important question, does the disciple of Christ reciprocate that love? Here Jesus narrows and asks "more than these" multiple explanations exist, fishing, more than he loves the disciples, or does he love more than the other disciples. Probably, Christ is asking Peter, do you love me more than you love the other disciples?" In particular, during the three details Peter had chosen to show love for man rather than love for Christ. Jesus now asks Peter to play His highest love and dedication in Christ.
• Many languages have more than one word for love and Greek is no different. In John 21 we see Jesus using αγαπάς and Peter responding, with φιλώ. Sciholars have debated the significance of the two words but consider the folllowing: John chose to use two different words in close proximity to each other, it would seem that John is trying to capture something for us to consider. Many have argued that the agape love used by Christ is a higher love than the phileo love used by Peter. This may be the case, and it may even be the case that reflecting on his failures Peter was unwilling to over commit again (he had previously, Matthew 26:35, told Jesus that even if all denied he would remain loyal) this may be the case. But even if John has a more subtle point it is important to note the presence of alternation. Perhaps what John is showing is that Christ was willing to meet Peter where he was and use the phileo love Peter was willing to commit to him. Regardless, what we see is Jesus asking Peter ego commit to loving Him. Christ asks that His followers love Him first and foremost.
• You might wonder, what does it mean to love Christ. We toss the word love around a lot, we even abuse the word for love, so what does love for Christ actually look like? Christ follows the question of love with a command, feed “my lambs.” Here Christ reveals what love for Christ looks like, it looks like love for Christ’s flock. Christ, in this passage, presents himself as the shepherd and calls on Peter, as an under shepherd to care for Christ’s flock.

No really, do you love Jesus?

• Verse 16: Again we see Jesus ask Peter, do you love me. Interestingly, the phrase “more than these” is notably missing this time around. Peter responds in exactly the same way, and this time Jesus says “tend my sheep.”

Let me ask you one more time, do you love Jesus?

• Verse 17: Finally, we see Jesus change the question and use the phileo that Peter had been using. Peter is grieved, breaks down and admits that it is Jesus who knows all. Jesus responds by repeating the command to “feed my sheep.” The commands feed, tend, feed provide us another alternation the work of loving Christ’s church can be hard work and can require significant dedication. Some people are hard to love, some people are needy, but the alternation seems to indicate a complete love for all of Christ’s church.
• So, I am left with the following question in my mind, “do I love Jesus”. Honestly, I don’t think any person can answer this question without being grieved because no matter who you are, there is room to love Christ more. We need to commit to total devotion to Christ.

As Christians we must have complete devotion to Christ.

The Cost of Devotion (Verses 18-19)

The truth about the cost (Verse 18)

• Jesus addresses the cost of true devotion by beginning with the phrase αμην αμην, a translation of an Aramaic word that meant to confirm. It is interesting that there is no known use of a Jewish individual using the word αμην of his own speech. Instead, the word was used to confirm the peach of another. When Jesus uses this phrase it is something like "thus says the Lord." Jesus is stating a prophetic fact as God Himself.
• Jesus gives Peter a comparative illustration to highlight the cost. Peter was an excited, energetic, young man who was a go getter. Peter was know for getting things done! You could say that Peter enjoyed his freedom and lived freely (think about his rash decision to jump in the sea earlier). Jesus compares the freedom with which Peter lives to the bonds in which he will die. The phrase "you will stretch out your hands" was understood in ancient culture to be crucifixion. In 2 Peter 1:12-15 "For this reason I will not be negligent to remind you always of these things, though you know and are established in the present truth. Yes, I think it is right, as long as I am in this tent, to stir you up by reminding you, knowing that shortly I must put off my tent, just as our Lord Jesus Christ showed me. Moreover I will be careful to ensure that you always have a reminder of these things after my decease." Peter demonstrates that he spent 3 decades ministering with the knowledge that he would die for Christ.
• We sometimes sugarcoat the costs. Don't be deceived, it may cost you everything to live for Christ.
  • Matthew 10:22 And you will be hated by all for My name’s sake. But he who endures to the end will be saved.
  • Matthew 5:11Blessed are you when they revile and persecute you, and say all kinds of evil against you falsely for My sake.
  • On the Damascus road Christ tells Paul Acts 9:16 For I will show him how many things he must suffer for My name’s sake.
  • Matthew 10:39 He who finds his life will lose it, and he who loses his life for My sake will find it.
• Suffering for Christ is real!

===The

If we are to live devoted to Christ, we must be prepared to give all for Christ.

The Focus of Devotion (Verses 20-23)

Christians must place their focus on Christ, stop measuring themselves against other Christians, and instead measure themselves against Christ, the perfect standard of God.

According to Mark Bailey, the president of Dallas Theological Seminary, the the gospels only give us a total of 52 days in the life of Christ. Moreover, Chapters 12 through 20 of John only give us a window into 7 days of Christ's life. What does this mean, Christ did a whole lot more, but God, in His word has not chosen to reveal those aspects of Christ's life to act of us.

Conclusion

Have you erected a facade of devotion, or are you willing to admit failures of devotion and to throw yourself at the Savior asking for help in your devotion to Him?

Are you prepared to give all for Christ, or do you have a personal reserved area of your life?

Are you distracted by all those around, or is your focus on Christ and Christ alone?

• You may have answered any of these questions in a way that demonstrates failure. Perhaps you committed to Christ a few months ago and are now looking back and seeing failure. Maybe you have fallen back into complacency, maybe your dedication that was before so real has resulted in denial more recently. In John 21 we see an answer to the question, "what about Christians who fail?" The answer is simple, Christ provides forgiveness and asks for devotion. Don't let the failures of the past prevent you from successes today. Instead, let the failures of the past teach you the dangers of complacency and the need to walk fully dedicated. I see no evidence that Peter ever went back to "normal" fishing after these events. Peter put the past behind him and pushed forward in complete devotion to his savior. In fact, tradition holds that Peter suffered martyrdom around AD 67-68 and was crucified upside down, counting himself unworthy to be crucified in the manner of Christ.

References